Howdy bluegrass fans and friends,

Much has happened here at FireHeart Records since our last e-mail newsletter.  Here's the quick version just to get all y'all updated:

• Stolen Banjo Discovered!
• Chris's Stelling Masterflower banjo was discovered in a storage facility of a known felon by a Santa Cruz Sheriff Department detective this week.  Chris plans to  drive up to Santa Cruz to collect his  returned banjo this Friday.  The officer said it appears to be in good condition and in the original yellow case.  Many thanks to those around the world who offered their prayers and concern.   It seems someone was listening. 
  

• FireHeart Records Website Offline
• The FireHeart Records Website www.fireheartpro.com is currently offline while we update and change the domain registration and the overall site look and feel.  Hopefully we'll have the new site up and running soon and I'll make sure to let everyone know when it's done so you can ohh and ahhh over the easier, more user friendly and informative site.  Thank you for your patience.
  

• New E-mail Address for Chris
  
• Because the FireHeart site is down, our old e-mail addresses are not working.  If you've recently sent e-mails to me at  chris@fireheartpro.com or at sales@fireheartpro.com, it's likely I haven't received them. 
  
• My new e-mail address is"chris@chriscairnsband.com" as of 10/9/07 so please make any appropriate changes in your address books and contact files. 
  
• Oh, and don't forget to visit the Chris Cairns Band Website website if you haven't already.  There is lots of great music to listen to including some new "unreleased" material that I've been working on.

• New Stelling Banjo Purchased
• Thanks to all of you who have supported my efforts to replace the Stelling Masterflower banjo which was stolen from me in August.  After receiving donations amounting to more than  1/2 the cost of purchasing a new banjo from Geoff Stelling, I was able to visit Geoff at his shop in Afton VA on "banjo lane" and test drive quite a few different Stellings.  I settled on a generously discounted "Bellflower" which remarkably resembles the tone and look of my stolen banjo.  The new banjo is now in my hands in California and has already contributed to my writing some new songs including "The Killer Whale Waltz" which seems to be a favorite everywhere I play it.  Thanks again to all who helped make this new banjo possible for me.  Every donation has helped make this dream come true.  Now with the return of the original stolen instrument, I have my original banjo back and a half paid for replacement which makes one banjo too many!  I'll be discussing possible solutions to this dilemma with the donors and friends over the next month.

• New Monthly Concert Series
• The first in a continuing series of bluegrass concerts at Jensen Mainstage in Santa Barbara, CA was held on Saturday, October 6th.  The "Hoot" is a collaboration of local bluegrass musicians who are seeking to get together and make music for our own enjoyment.  Utilizing the brand new stage and great sounding room at Jensen Guitar's Electric Shop on De La Vina in Santa Barbara, I'll be hosting a once a month concert session with various bluegrass and related acoustic music professionals where the audience is invited to "sit in" on music making as it happens.  Special guests are always showing up to perform a song or showcase their talents and the magical moments are being enjoyed by all who attend.  Join us on the first Saturday of each new month (November 3rd, December 1st, etc) and watch the magic unfold.  Next month's invitees include the harmony singing talents of Phil Pritchard and Todd Grant of the Floyd County Boys, fiddler Tom Marton and other special guests.  Don't miss it!

• Whiskey Chimp to be featured on KPFK's "Folk Scene" radio show
• Ventura's hottest roots band "Whiskey Chimp" will be interviewed by radio DJ Roz Harmon for L.A.'s acclaimed radio show "The Folk Scene" heard on KPFK on October 23rd.  Click here Folk Scene Radio Show for more information about the show and the radio on air interview with The Chimp.

• Whiskey Chimp McCabe's Concert
• On October 26th, Whiskey Chimp will be performing at the world renouned McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, CA.  Tickets for this show are already selling fast and if you've never seen the chimp at McCabe's, well, you just haven't lived.  Come on down and kick off your Halloween with The Chimp.  For more information contact McCabe's Guitar Shop 3101 Pico, Santa Monica, CA at (310-828-4497) or click here to visit their website: McCabe's Guitar Shop

• More "Hello Blue" Radio Airplay
• Chris Cairns' album "Hello Blue" has been picked up by a number of bluegrass DJ's around the world and fans have reported hearing songs on the air in New York, Washington D.C. and even here in California.  The latest addition to the roster is "Planet Pootwaddle." Created from the wacky brain of producer Michael Sheehy, "Pootwaddle" is an award winning eclectic music radio show featuring the music and words of some of the most profound artists in the world.  Michael has seen fit to include Chris Cairns in that list and he's currently playing at least 4 tracks from the new CD!  Check them out online by clicking here Planet Pootwaddle.  For a partial list of radio stations that are playing cuts from "Hello Blue" please click the following link: Radio Airplay.